FLORENCE, SC – Following two conference shutout victories, the Francis Marion University women's soccer program remained at No. 17 in the latest United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division II Top 25 poll on Tuesday afternoon (Oct. 21).
The Patriots remain unblemished during the 2025 season after improving to 12-0-0 overall following a pair of victories in the Conference Carolinas. Francis Marion captured a 2-0 shutout win versus Barton on Wednesday evening before posting a 3-0 win against Ferrum over the weekend. FMU is one of two NCAA Division II women's programs still unbeaten and untied this year.
Francis Marion will host the University of Mount Olive on Wednesday, Oct. 22, on Pepsi Hot Dog & Drink Night with kickoff set for 4:30 p.m. On Saturday, the Patriots travel to Erskine for a league match scheduled to start at 1 p.m.
FMU continues to sit third in the Southeast Region rankings behind No. 4 Catawba College (11-0-2) and No. 9 University of North Georgia (12-1-1), who remained in the Top 10 nationally this week. Catawba won the head-to-head match against North Georgia 1-0 last week on the road, courtesy of a game-winning goal with 14 seconds remaining.
The Patriots continue to feature one of the top defensive units in NCAA Division II, ranking second in the nation in shutout percentage (.917) and goals-against average (.167). Francis Marion has tallied 11 clean sheets this season and increased its school record shutout streak to 914:15 scoreless minutes. Offensively, FMU sits eighth in assists per game (2.58) and ninth in shots per game (17.50).
Individually, junior goalkeeper
Erin Grabeel ranks second in NCAA Division II with 10 shutouts and third with a .169 goals-against average through 12 matches. She also sits sixth overall in save percentage (.917). Freshman midfielder
Madeline Ballard ranks seventh in DII and paces the Conference Carolinas with seven assists. Senior forward
Tehya Dave' leads the league and ranks fifth in the country with five game-winning goals, while sitting 14th in shots per game (3.42).
